Dog Daycare .. with HUGE city fees!
Donation protected
Here is our 3rd Interview with Michael Turko of KUSI news.
Watch our latest News Interview
My wife (Meg Halaska) and I (Diane Hotz) are parents to pups who have attended daycare in the past and we felt like we needed more dogs – and less stress – in our lives. Meg works in the recovery room of a very busy trauma center as a San Diego Registered Nurse. I am a high school science teacher of 24 years in the Poway Unified School District.
We decided a life spent caring for dogs would be the perfect solution to creating a better work-life balance. We were attracted to Dogtopia’s focus on health, safety, and employee training and wanted to expand the franchise in the San Diego area.
Meg and I are both actively involved with community service efforts. We have collected money, food, bedding, and miscellaneous supplies for the Baja Animal Sanctuary. I am a monthly volunteer and active member of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. I am highly skilled in handling and rescuing a variety of animals, both domestic and wild and evacuating animals during fires. I am also the advisor for the Animal Rescue Club at my high school.
Meg and I are excited to offer Dogtopia’s outstanding care and services to dog owners in Miramar/UTC and the surrounding communities. Unfortunately we have encountered multiple obstacles with city permits for our location at 5260 Eastgate Mall Road. In July 2014 we contacted the city several times to confirm the correct zoning for our location. After being assured it was "Industrial" zoned and we would be allowed to open we signed our 10 year lease. We then completed our achitect plans and submitted them to the city. A city employee contacted us to tell us we cannot open a "kennel" on this property because it was "prime industrial" land. We hired a consultant to convince the city that we could open a dogdaycare/boarding facility if we submitted a Neighborhood Use permit. This was great news because we could eventually open but unfortunately would cost us additional money we didn't have. In addition, the city is requiring us to pay additional money for a Developmental Impact Fee- $60,000.
Meg and I have taken money out of our retirement as a down payment for an SBA loan. We will be spending a large amount of money for tennant improvements to assure we have a safe and healthy social environment for the dogs. Unfortunately our small amount of working capital is quickly disappearing for all of the extra fees the city is requiring of us. Meg and I are asking for your help and would appreciate any financial help.
Thanks so much for reading,
Diane Hotz and Meg Halaska
Watch our latest News Interview
My wife (Meg Halaska) and I (Diane Hotz) are parents to pups who have attended daycare in the past and we felt like we needed more dogs – and less stress – in our lives. Meg works in the recovery room of a very busy trauma center as a San Diego Registered Nurse. I am a high school science teacher of 24 years in the Poway Unified School District.
We decided a life spent caring for dogs would be the perfect solution to creating a better work-life balance. We were attracted to Dogtopia’s focus on health, safety, and employee training and wanted to expand the franchise in the San Diego area.
Meg and I are both actively involved with community service efforts. We have collected money, food, bedding, and miscellaneous supplies for the Baja Animal Sanctuary. I am a monthly volunteer and active member of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. I am highly skilled in handling and rescuing a variety of animals, both domestic and wild and evacuating animals during fires. I am also the advisor for the Animal Rescue Club at my high school.
Meg and I are excited to offer Dogtopia’s outstanding care and services to dog owners in Miramar/UTC and the surrounding communities. Unfortunately we have encountered multiple obstacles with city permits for our location at 5260 Eastgate Mall Road. In July 2014 we contacted the city several times to confirm the correct zoning for our location. After being assured it was "Industrial" zoned and we would be allowed to open we signed our 10 year lease. We then completed our achitect plans and submitted them to the city. A city employee contacted us to tell us we cannot open a "kennel" on this property because it was "prime industrial" land. We hired a consultant to convince the city that we could open a dogdaycare/boarding facility if we submitted a Neighborhood Use permit. This was great news because we could eventually open but unfortunately would cost us additional money we didn't have. In addition, the city is requiring us to pay additional money for a Developmental Impact Fee- $60,000.
Meg and I have taken money out of our retirement as a down payment for an SBA loan. We will be spending a large amount of money for tennant improvements to assure we have a safe and healthy social environment for the dogs. Unfortunately our small amount of working capital is quickly disappearing for all of the extra fees the city is requiring of us. Meg and I are asking for your help and would appreciate any financial help.
Thanks so much for reading,
Diane Hotz and Meg Halaska
Organizer
Diane Hotz
Organizer
San Diego, CA